Norton will go head-to head with the Premiership elite on TV next week.

The Ancients are set to share small screen space with the big boys as they get star billing on Football Focus.

The NL Second Division minnows are to be featured on the famous Saturday lunchtime soccer magazine programme watched by millions.

Normally the show previews the weekend's top flight tussles, interviews the biggest names in the game and tackles the hot issues at the money-washed end of the game.

But next week the Ancients will bask in the media spotlight as the Beeb set out on the annual Road To Cardiff and lucky Norton are the featured minnows living the dream as the FA Cup kicks off.

Mark Lawrenson will be introducing a five minute section centred on Norton's game with Yorkshire Amateur in the extra- preliminary round at Station Road.

The ace Match of the Day pundit will be in Teesside early next week with a camera crew to film players in training - there is bound to be 100pc attendance and plenty of new boots around - and interview the manager and officials.

And the cameras will stick around to take in the action in the prime time game.

And, just like for Boro and the rest of the big boys, Norton's kick-off time has been switched to suit television. The big showdown has been brought forward to 12.30pm so the kick-off can be shown on Football Focus.

The progress of the match and the result will be given on Grandstand later that afternoon.

"This is an absolutely fantastic coup for the club," said delighted boss Ray Morton. "It will give Norton a huge boost and it gives us a magnificent opportunity to raise our profile in the area.

"The whole club is buzzing, from the people behind the scenes who do a lot of work right through to the players who have always dreamed of playing on the box.

"I can't wait to see the lads' faces in training when the cameras are there.

"There is a really bubbling atmosphere right now - and a lot of new haircuts. I'd have one myself if I had any hair.

"Hopefully the publicity, the early kick-off and the chance to get on the telly will mean we might get a decent crowd and a few of them might like what they see and come back."

The phone call from the BBC came out of the blue last month and Norton agreed immediately. Who wouldn't?

"It seems that someone at the BBC just liked our name," said former Queen of the South man Ray, now in his second season in the dug-out.

"They started with Great Yarmouth last year and they wanted somewhere in the North this time.

"A researcher was skimming through the fixtures and saw the name Stockton and Ancients and were quite taken by it.

"It is just by chance but it is great for us."

The Norton on show in the nation's living rooms will be much changed from the team that hovered in the Second Division drop zone last term.

Morton built his side around a clutch of talented youngsters but now admits that his young guns approach misfired.

"We had some fantastic young kids and at times they played some superb stuff," he said. "But there are some big strong physical teams in this division playing very direct and cynical football on some terrible pitches and at times the kids struggled to cope with that.

"They learned a lot from it though, and will be better for it in the long run but if we are to make progress and they are to get their chance to shine in a stronger team it was important we brought in some experience to help them."

Among the older heads is Paul Rowntree.

'Jellies' - who started at Norton - won the Northern League Golden Boot and terrified defences in ten years at Billingham Town where he averaged well over 30 goals a season.

Since then he has had spells at Thornaby and Durham before finishing last term at Peter Mulcaster's Seaham Red Star.

Also returning is Chris Fawcett. The imposing defender and occasional target man enjoyed a five-year spell at top flight Billingham Synthonia.

Morton has also signed ex-Thornaby centre-back Martin Thompson from Marske.

"That has given us a real spine of steel"," said Ray.

"Players who know the game and control it. They will make a difference.

"I've also signed Lee Tucker who has played at Boro and Billingham Town, a very talented and influential player.

"We looked excellent in pre-season and got some good draws with strong teams like Synners and Tow Law, then in the opener last week we were comfortable and organised.

"It bodes well for the coming season. I'm not setting targets but we will surprise a few people this year."